Serum Level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Clinical Significance

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Laryngeal cancer is an important malignancy in head and neck area and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is the most common type accounting for 95% of cases. Increase in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) indifferent tumors and their correlation with tumor invasiveness has been documented. However, most studieshave evaluated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and few have evaluated serum levels. The aim of current studywas to evaluate serum levels in patients with laryngeal SCC compared to normal subjects and assess any relationwith tumor clinicopathological findings. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: In this case control study, 20 patients with oralSCC and 20 healthy subjects were included. Serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were compared between groupsand correlations with findings including grade (T) and node involvement (N) were evaluated. <br/><b>Results</b>: Patientswith laryngeal SCC had significantly higher serum levels of MMP-2 (p=0.01) and MMP-9 (p=0.03) comparedto healthy subjects. Patients with higher T stage (T3,4) had significantly higher MMP-2 (p=0.04) and MMP-9(p=0.01). There was significant positive correlation between serum levels of MMP-2 with T stage (r=0.45, p=0.04)and lymph node involvement (r=0.563, p=0.01) and between levels of MMP-9 with T stage (r=0.527, p=0.01).<br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Our results showed that compared to healthy subjects, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 are significantlyincreased in serum of laryngeal SCC cases. MMP-2 was correlated with lymph node involvement while MMP-9has stronger correlation with T stage compared to MMP-2.